pulled from tss…

.

“Like It Was Yesterday…”

from The Smoking Section by TSSCrew

Words By J. Tinsley

Personally, I hate constructing posts like these. But on the same accord, it brings me one of the greatest joys. Since the vast majority of us will never become close acquaintances to our favorite artists, let alone meet them, their music acts as our lone bond of friendship. I remember exactly what I was doing on August 25, 2001. A normal day it was, indeed. I had cut grass about two hours earlier and the rest of my day was dedicated to doing absolutely nothing. This was around the time AOL was the main source of internet entertainment and instant messenger seemed light years ahead of its time. Around six that evening, I received an IM from a friend asking if the ‘Aaliyah dying in a plane crash’ rumor was true.

I turned to BET. Nothing was there. I turned to MTV. Nothing was there either. Almost near the completion of typing my message, “hell naw, that’s some bullsh…,” the confirmation flashed across the screen. It was surreal, actually. Aaliyah was never my favorite artist, but I’d be a fool to say she wasn’t leagues beyond amazing. Like most other teenage boys at the time (and even to this day), I had the biggest crush on her. She was beautiful and seductive, but not whorish. Talented, but not cocky. Quiet, but full of potential. And in one fateful plane ride, it was over. It didn’t seem fair then, and it doesn’t seem fair eight years later. More than likely it never will, but that is the most disgustingly beautiful thing about life, you don’t know. You just don’t know.

As with most other celebrity passings, her death has increased the interest and value in her life tenfold. With production of a biopic on her life supposedly in motion, only time will tell if her silver screen representation will do justice what her physical managed to capture while here on Earth. Also, it is amazing to see the impact she had on the R&B landscape, specifically the female subgenre. Before Beyonc é and Alicia Keys became true household names, Aaliyah Dana Haughton held the top spot (with Mary J, too, of course). In death, she even helped influence the styles of artists like Ashanti, Ciara, Rihanna, Cassie and more.

In song, Tupac once asked the question, “How Long Will They Mourn Me?” and not even he knew the real answer. The solution is rather simple when you analyze it. They (the fans) will mourn you as long as your work continues to resonate with them. If Aaliyah’s creative resume’ is any proof, the answer could very well be until the end of time.

As if this tragedy wasn’t shell shocking enough, no one could have even remotely predicted what would happen only two weeks later.